Hydrangea plant named ‘HITOR’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘HITOR’, characterized by its upright and broadly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; strong and sturdy stems; freely and reblooming flowering habit; large and dense inflorescences with medium to dark purplish red-colored sterile flowers; and good post-production longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HITOR’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Assignee, Hi Breeding B. V. of De Lier, TheNetherlands, on Sep. 9, 2019, application number 2019/2203. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assigneeclaim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosureand/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior tothe effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla,commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘HITOR’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new sturdy and strong Hydrangea plantswith attractive inflorescences and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination in March,2013 of a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified ascode number 1216, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number1335, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangeaplant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in April, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by terminal vegetativecuttings since June, 2016 in a controlled greenhouse environment in DeLier, The Netherlands has shown that the unique features of this newHydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘HITOR’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘HITOR’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and broadly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Strong and sturdy stems.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large and dense inflorescences with medium to dark purplish        red-colored sterile flowers.    -   6. Good post-production longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than and not as        vigorous as plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Stems of plants of the new Hydrangea are sturdier than stems        of plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Sterile flower sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea are        darker purplish red in color than sterile flower sepals of        plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Stems of plants of the new Hydrangea are sturdier than stems        of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘Hot Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plantsof the new Hydrangea differed primarily from plants of ‘Hot Red’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are not as compact as and are        more vigorous than plants of ‘Hot Red’.    -   2. Stems of plants of the new Hydrangea are more sturdy than        stems of plants of ‘Hot Red’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance ofthe new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘HITOR’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘HITOR’, and the photograph at the bottom ofthe second sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘HITOR’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdescription were grown during the autumn in 14-cm containers in aglass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 35° C.,night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 22° C. and lightly levels wereabout 4,000 lux for 16 hours per day. Plants of the new Hydrangea werepinched one time and were two years old when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.Plants are not typically “blued” (treated with aluminum sulfate).

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘HITOR’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, patent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla identified as code number 1216, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, patent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla identified as code number 1335, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at            temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days            at temperatures about 19° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright, broadly outwardly spreading            and mounding plant habit; flattened globular in overall            shape; strong and sturdy stems; moderately vigorous growth            habit and moderate growth rate; about six months from            propagation are required to produce a finished flowering            plant.        -   Plant height.—About 31.3 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 54.3 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about eleven            lateral branches per plant; pinching is not required, but            will enhance lateral branch development.        -   Length.—About 14.9 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.9 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.        -   Aspect.—About 55° from vertical.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 144B.        -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 144A, at the internodes,            slightly tinged with close to N186C; woody, close to 199B            and 199C and N199D.        -   Lenticels.—Density: Sparse to medium. Length: About 2 mm.            Width: About 0.5 mm. Color: Close to N186C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 11.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 7.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly ovate to broadly elliptic.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Short attenuate.        -   Margin.—Coarsely serrate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Slightly rugose,            glabrous; glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Moderately rugose,            glabrous; somewhat glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between 143B and            144A. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Darker than            between NN137A and 147A; venation, close to 146C. Fully            developed leaves, lower surface: Close to between 146B and            147B; venation, close to 146D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to            144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy rotate sterile flowers and            small, inconspicuous rotate fertile flowers arranged on            mophead-type terminal panicles; panicles flattened globular            in shape; sterile flowers face upright to outwardly, and            fertile flowers mostly upright.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—In the garden, plants flower            continuously from the late spring to late summer in The            Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; sterile            flowers maintain good substance for about six weeks on the            plant, sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last            about three days on the plant, fertile flowers not            persistent.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 120            sterile flowers per panicle and about 30 fertile flowers per            panicle.        -   Panicle height.—About 10.3 cm.        -   Panicle diameter.—About 16.3 cm.        -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About            1.9 cm. Shape: Broadly cup-shaped. Color: Close to 67A.        -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About            3.5 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 147D;            distally, close to 144B and proximally, close to 144C.        -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 4.2 cm.        -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 1.2 cm.        -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 8 mm.        -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 7 mm.        -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a            single whorl. Length: About 2.5 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm.            Shape: Broadly ovate, moderately concave. Apex: Acute. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 70B; color does not            change with development. When opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 68B; color does not change with            development.        -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a            single whorl. Length: About 3.5 mm. Width: About 2 mm.            Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Center, close to N77B; towards the            apex, base and margin, close to N155B; colors do not change            with development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 145D; towards the base, tinged with close            to N75D; colors do not change with development.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically            four or five in a single whorl. Length: About 2.2 cm. Width:            About 2.1 cm. Shape: Broadly rhomboidal to close to deltoid.            Apex: Broad and bluntly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate.            Margin: Entire; moderately and coarsely undulate. Texture            and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 61C.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 64D. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to between 58A and 61B; with            development, colors becoming closer to 178B and 178C            strongly tinged with 146A. Fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 70C; with development, colors becoming closer to            180D and 181D tinged with 148D.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a            single whorl. Length: About 3.5 mm. Width: About 2 mm.            Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Bluntly acute to acute. Base:            Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 143A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to 144B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 143A; towards the base, tinged with close to 58D; color            does not change with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 144A to 144B; towards the base, tinged            with close to 58D and lighter than 58D; color does not            change with development.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter:            About 1.25 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About            40° from peduncle. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent;            matte. Color: Close to 181D.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter:            About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 10°            from peduncle. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Color: Close to 145A tinged with close to 75C.        -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: Eight. Filament length: About 3.5 mm. Filament            color: Close to 65C to 65D. Anther length: About 0.75 mm.            Anther shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155D.            Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155A.            Pistils: Pistil quantity per flower: Two or three. Pistil            length: About 1.5 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma            color: Close to 75D. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color:            Close to 73B to 73C. Ovary color: Close to N155C.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per            flower: Ten. Filament length: About 3.5 mm. Filament color:            Close to 65C to 65D. Anther shape: Broadly oblong. Anther            length: About 0.75 mm. Anther color: Close to 155D. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils:            Pistil quantity per flower: Two or three. Pistil length:            About 1.5 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close            to 75D. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 73B            to 73C. Ovary color: Close to 145C.        -   Seeds.—To date, seed development has not been observed on            plants of the new Hydrangea.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions,    plants of the new Hydrangea have been observed to tolerate Powdery    Mildew (Erysiphe friesii var. friesii) and Botrytis (Botrytis    cinerea). Plants of the new Hydrangea not been observed to be    resistant to pests and other pathogens common to Hydrangea plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown    to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘HITOR’ asillustrated and described.